Touch Gesture Actions From A Device&#39;s Lock Screen

ABSTRACT

Embodiments enable a mobile device to execute an action analogous to a user-defined action in response to receipt of a gesture analogous to a user-defined gesture. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method executes an action on a mobile device. A lock screen view is displayed on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device&#39;s data. While the mobile device is locked, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape is detected on a touch screen of the mobile device independently of the initial position of the touch gesture on the touch screen. In response to detection of the touch gesture, a particular action is executed on the mobile device while the mobile device stays locked. The particular action determined according to the pre-defined shape. In this way, detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while keeping the mobile device locked.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This field relates to touch gestures on a mobile device.

2. Background Art

Some mobile devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), portable navigation devices (PNDs) and handheld game consoles,include touch screens. These devices accept input by detectingmovements, known as touch gestures, of fingers or other objects incontact with the touch screen. Upon detection of a touch gesture, themobile device, or an application stored thereon, may execute an action.For example, upon detection of a pinch touch gesture, a web browsingapplication may zoom out of a web page.

Mobile devices generally include lock screens to prevent unauthorized orunintentional access to the device. Mobile devices running the ANDROIDoperating system, available from Google Inc., enable a user to define atouch pattern gesture to unlock a touch screen. This feature, known aspattern unlock, enables a user to define a gesture to authenticate theuser and unlock the device. Once the device is unlocked, user canexecute functionality of the mobile device. However, unlocking themobile device and then executing the desired action is a multi-stepprocess and can be cumbersome.

Systems and methods are needed that enable users to access more easilyfunctionality of a locked mobile device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments enable a user to execute an action by inputting a touchgesture directly from a lock screen. In a first embodiment, acomputer-implemented method executes an action on a mobile device. Alock screen view is displayed on the mobile device to preventunauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device's data. Whilethe mobile device is locked, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shapeis detected on a touch screen of the mobile device independently of theinitial position of the touch gesture on the touch screen. In responseto detection of the touch gesture, a particular action is executed onthe mobile device while the mobile device stays locked. The particularaction is determined according to the pre-defined shape. In this way,detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to executewhile keeping the mobile device locked.

In a second embodiment, a system executes an action on a mobile device.The system includes a lock screen module that displays a lock screenview on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent accessto the mobile device's data. While the lock screen module displays thelock screen view, a gesture interpretation module detects a touchgesture having a pre-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobiledevice independently of the initial position of the touch gesture on thetouch screen. In response to detection of the touch gesture and whilethe mobile device remains locked, a lock action module executes aparticular action on an application of the mobile device determinedaccording to the pre-defined shape. The mobile device comprises at leastone processor and memory. In this way, detection of the touch gestureinitiates the particular action while keeping the mobile device locked.

In a third embodiment, a computer-implemented method executes an actionon a mobile device. When the mobile device is unlocked, a user is ableto define a shape of a touch gesture to cause the mobile device toexecute a particular action. A lock screen view is displayed on themobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to themobile device's data. While the mobile device is locked, a touch gesturehaving the shape defined by the user is detected on a touch screen ofthe mobile device. In response to detection of the touch gesture, aparticular action is executed on the mobile device while the mobiledevice stays locked. In this way, detection the user-defined shapesecurely authorizes execution of the particular action while the mobiledevice is locked.

Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention, as wellas the structure and operation of the various embodiments of theinvention are described in detail below with reference to accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention and, togetherwith the description, further serve to explain the principles of theinvention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to makeand use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates receiving a touch gesture from alock screen view to execute an action, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram that illustrates a system for executing an action inresponse to a touch gesture while keeping a mobile device locked,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart that illustrates a method for defining a touchgesture.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart that illustrates a method for detecting a touchgesture and executing an action in response to the touch gesture,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is diagram that illustrates an interface to define a touchgesture to execute an action from a lock screen view to execute anaction, according to an embodiment.

The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated bythe leftmost digit or digits in the corresponding reference number. Inthe drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As mentioned above, executing actions from a lock screen can be acumbersome multi-step process. Embodiments disclosed herein enable auser to execute an action by inputting a touch gesture directly from alock screen. In an embodiment, the mobile device may detect the touchgesture without regard to its initial position on the touch screen. Inthis way, a user can execute an action while keeping the mobile devicelocked without looking at the mobile device's view. In anotherembodiment, the touch gesture to execute the action may be pre-definedby the user. In this way, detection of the touch gesture serves toverify that the user has authority to execute the action while themobile device remains locked. These and other embodiments are describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram 100 that illustrates receiving a touch gesturefrom a lock screen view to execute an action, according to anembodiment. Diagram 100 shows two views 102 and 104, each displaying alock screen view. While displaying the lock screen view, a user inputs atouch gesture by, for example, touching the surface of the mobiledevice's touch screen and moving her finger along the screen's surfacein a particular pattern.

Views 102 and 104 show corresponding touch gestures 106 and 108respectively. Touch gestures 106 and 108 are similar in shape but arelocated at different positions on the touch screen. As discussed ingreater detail below, the shape of touch gestures 106 and 108 maycorrespond to a previously defined user-input. In this way, the shape oftouch gestures 106 and 108 may serve to authenticate the user andprevent unauthorized access to the device. A person of skill in the artwould recognize that touch gestures 106 and 108 may include discretepositions or a continuous curve.

Despite being located at different positions on the touch screen, touchgestures 106 and 108 may cause the mobile device to execute the sameaction as illustrated at box 110. By detecting touch gesturesindependently of their positions on the touch screen, a user need notlook at the mobile device's touch screen or view to execute the action.For example, a user can execute the action to silence a mobile devicewhile keeping the mobile device discretely hidden from view. In afurther embodiment, touch gestures 106 and 108 may have different sizes,but could still invoke the same action.

As mentioned above, in response to input of the touch gesture 106 or108, the mobile device may execute an action while remaining locked. Themobile device may execute different actions in response to differentgestures. For example, mobile device may change volume control, make aphone call, disable sound and alarms, execute a game, or access anddisplay personal data.

View 120 shows one example that involves displaying personal data. Inparticular, view 120 shows a pop-up window 122 that displays thecalendar data for today's date to a user. In short, in response to touchgesture, view 120 displays today's schedule while the mobile deviceremains locked. This embodiment enables a user to view more quickly andeasily the day's schedule, avoiding the sometimes cumbersome process ofunlocking the mobile device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mobile device 200 for executing anaction in response to a touch gesture while keeping the mobile devicelocked, according to an embodiment. Mobile device 200 includes a touchreceiver 202, a gesture definition module 204, a gesture database 206, agesture interpretation module 208, a lock screen module 210, a lockaction module 214, and a personal database 212.

In an embodiment, mobile device 200 may operate as follows. Usinggesture definition module 204, a user may define a touch gesture toexecute a particular action. Gesture definition module 204 may storedata representing the gesture in gesture database 206. With the gestureconfigured, a user may be able to execute the action from the mobiledevice's lock screen view. Lock screen module 210 may display a lockscreen view that prevents unauthorized and inadvertent access to themobile device. While lock screen module 210 displays the lock screenview, the user may input the touch gesture on the mobile device's touchscreen. Touch receiver 202 may receive the touch gesture. Gestureinterpretation module 208 may compare the inputted touch gesture datawith the pre-defined touch gesture data. If the inputted touch gesturedata matches the pre-defined touch gesture data, the user isauthenticated. Lock action module 214 may initiate an action on themobile device while the device remains locked. In this way, mobiledevice 200 may securely initiate an action while keeping the mobiledevice locked.

Lock screen module 210 displays a lock screen view on the mobile deviceto prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to a mobile device. Forexample, the lock screen view may serve to avoid inadvertent access tothe mobile device. In that example, lock screen module 210 may notaccept any other input until a particular touch gesture input isreceived. Receipt of the particular touch gesture input may confirm thatthe user intends to access the device and that the touches are notaccidental touches that may for example occur when the mobile device isin a user's pocket or purse.

In addition to preventing inadvertent access, lock screen module 210 mayprevent unauthorized access to the mobile device. Lock screen module 210may prevent unauthorized access to a user's personal data on a mobiledevice. The lock screen module may receive an input to authenticate theuser and, in response to the authenticated input, unlock the mobiledevice. In an example, the input may be a touch gesture that the userhad pre-set for authentication purposes.

Touch receiver 202 may be any type of touch receiver that accepts inputfrom a touch screen. In an example, touch receiver 202 may receive touchinput on a view (not shown) of mobile device 200. The touch inputreceived may include a position that the user touched as defined by an Xand Y coordinate on the screen. The user may touch the screen with afinger, stylus, or other object. Touch receiver 202 may be able toreceive multiple touches simultaneously if, for example, the userselects multiple locations on the screen. The screen may detect touchesusing any technology known in the art including, but not limited to,resistive, capacitive, infrared, surface acoustic wave, strain gauge,optical imaging, acoustic pulse recognition, frustrated total internalreflection, and diffused laser imaging technologies.

In an embodiment, touch receiver 202 may receive two user inputs. Forexample, touch receiver 202 may sample inputs on the touch screenperiodically. Touch receiver 202 may receive a first user input at afirst sampling period and may receive a second user input at a secondsampling period. The first user input may indicate that an object hastouched a view of the mobile device, and the second user input mayindicate that the object has moved to a new position. In this way, touchreceiver 202 is able to receive touch gestures. In an example, a gesturemay be a single stroke and may terminate with the user lifts her fingerfrom the touch screen. In another example, a gesture may includemultiple strokes.

Gesture definition module 204 enables a user to define a touch gestureto initiate an associated action. In an embodiment, gesture definitionmodule 204 may present an interface to define a touch gesture for anaction. For example, gesture definition module 204 may present the userwith a list of actions for which the user may define a gesture. The usermay select an action from the list of actions. In an example, the mobiledevice may enable a user to enter a touch gesture using an interface asdescribed below with respect to FIG. 4. In response to the selection,gesture definition module may prompt the user for the touch gesture. Theuser may move her finger along the mobile device's touch screen to inputthe gesture. Touch receiver 202 receives the input and forwards dataspecifying the input to gesture definition module 210. Finally, gesturedefinition module 210 stores data specifying at least the shape of thetouch gesture into gesture database 212. In this way, a user can defineany shape for the touch gesture.

Gesture database 206 may store data specifying touch gestures forassociated actions. In an embodiment, gesture database 206 may storedata specifying a shape of a touch gesture and identifying an actioncorresponding to the touch gesture. In an embodiment, the touch gesturesmay be defined by a user using gesture definition module. In otherembodiments, pre-defined touch gestures may not be defined by a user.For example, an “up” arrow may cause the mobile device to turn itsvolume up, and a “down” arrow may cause the mobile device to turn itsvolume down. In another example, a letter may designate a particularaction. For example, the letter “D” may cause the mobile device todisplay the day's schedule.

Once a user defines a touch gesture, the user may input the touchgesture while the mobile device is locked to execute the action. Touchreceiver 202 may receive the touch gesture on the touch screen of themobile device.

Gesture interpretation module 208 may determine whether the inputtedtouch gesture matches a pre-defined touch gesture. Gestureinterpretation module 208 may compare the shape of the inputted touchgesture to the shape of the pre-defined touch gesture. In an embodiment,gesture interpretation module 208 may detect a matching touch gestureregardless of a difference in position between the inputted touchgesture and the pre-defined touch gesture on the touch screen of themobile device. By detecting the touch gesture independently from itsinitial position on the touch screen of the mobile device, a user canexecute an action more easily without looking at the touch screen of themobile device. This is especially useful in when the mobile device islocked, because the user may not have been actively using the mobiledevice before the gesture.

In an embodiment, gesture interpretation module 208 may first need to beactivated by some other input. In examples, gesture interpretationmodule 208 may be initiated by pressing a physical button, detectingmotion, or detecting a change in lighting. Gesture interpretation module208 may provide feedback (e.g., making a sound or vibration) to indicatewhen it is accepting input.

When gesture interpretation module 208 detects a matching touch gesture,gesture interpretation module 208 may provide feedback to a user. Forexample, gesture interpretation module 208 may present a line showingthe shape of the touch gesture or may cause the mobile device to vibrateor make a noise. In this way, gesture interpretation module 208acknowledges that the touch gesture was detected.

When gesture interpretation module 208 detects a matching touch gesture,lock action module 214 may initiate an action. Lock action module 214may initiate any type of action. In an example, the action may change asetting on the mobile device, such changing the volume or disablingsounds or alarms. In another example, the action may execute anapplication, such as a game, on the mobile device. The mobile device mayenable a user to download and install applications to expand thefunctionality of the mobile device. The action may result in the displayof data to the user while the touch screen is locked. A user may be ableto define an action that corresponds to a particular gesture. Forexample, a user may be able to define an “at the beach” or “on vacation”gesture that silences the mobile device and clears the day's schedule onthe user's calendar. In an embodiment, the action may access and displaypersonal data from personal database 212.

Personal database 212 may store personal data relating to a specificuser, such as calendar data, contact data, emails and text messages.This information may be particularly sensitive and, for that reason,requiring authentication to access it may be particularly useful. Inthat way, if a user misplaces her mobile device, or if the mobile deviceis stolen, the data remains secure.

In an example operation, a user may define a gesture to view the day'sschedule using gesture definition module 204. Data defining the gestureand indicating the corresponding action is stored in gesture database206. When the mobile device is locked, the user may input the previouslydefined touch gesture. Gesture interpretation module 208 identifies theinputted touch gesture and instructs lock action module 214 to displaythe calendar data while the mobile device remains locked. Lock actionmodule 214 may retrieve the schedule for that day and display to theuser. In this way, mobile device 214 may securely display calendar datato the user, without having to unlock the device.

Each of the gesture definition module 204, gesture interpretation module208, lock action module 214, and lock screen module 210 may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.

Gesture database 206 and personal database 212 may be any type ofpersistent memory including, for example, a SQL database.

Mobile device 200 may be implemented on any type of mobile computingdevice. Such computing device can include, but is not limited to, apersonal computer, mobile device such as a mobile phone, workstation,embedded system, game console, television, set-top box, or any othercomputing device. Further, a computing device can include, but is notlimited to, a device having a processor and memory for executing andstoring instructions. Software may include one or more applications andan operating system. Hardware can include, but is not limited to, aprocessor, memory and graphical user interface display. The computingdevice may also have multiple processors and multiple shared or separatememory components.

FIG. 3A shows a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for defining a touchgesture. In an embodiment, method 300 may be used in operation ofgesture definition module 204. In an example, method 300 may only beexecuted when the user is authenticated or when the device is unlocked.

At step 302, a user is presented with an interface to define a touchgesture for an action. For example, a user may select an action and themobile device may prompt to user to input a touch gesture to execute theaction while locked. In other examples, the interface may enable a userto define a sequence of actions to execute in response to the touchgesture. To enable the user to define the touch gesture, the mobiledevice may present a 9-dot pattern as described with respect to FIG. 4below.

At step 304, the mobile device receives a touch gesture from the user.For example, the user may touch a position on the touch screen. Whileremaining in contact with the touch screen, the user may move her fingeralong the surface of the screen. The touch gesture may terminate whenthe user removes her finger from the surface of the touch screen. Asmentioned above, in other examples, a gesture may include a series ofstrokes on the touch screen.

At step 306, data is stored representing the shape of the touch gesturereceived in step 304. The data may represent the shape of the touchgesture. For example, the data may represent may represent the path onthe touch screen of the mobile device. In this way, by enabling a userto define the gesture, the gesture may be used to authenticate the userprior to executing an action while the mobile device is locked.

FIG. 3B shows a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for detecting atouch gesture and executing an action in response to the touch gesture.In an embodiment, method 300 may be executed on mobile device 200 inFIG. 2.

At step 352, a lock screen view may be displayed on the mobile device toprevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to a mobile device. Themobile device may prevent inadvertent access by failing to react to anyother input until a particular touch gesture input is received. Themobile device may prevent unauthorized access if the particular touchgesture input that has been previously defined by the user.

At step 354, a touch gesture is detected on the touch screen of themobile device, while the mobile device is locked. Data representing theinputted touch gesture may be compared with data representing thepre-defined touch gestures. In an embodiment, the shape of the inputtedtouch gesture may be compared with the shape of pre-defined touchgestures. The shapes may be compared independent of their position onthe touch screen of the mobile device. In this way, by comparing theshape of the touch gesture independent of its position, a user can inputthe touch gesture without looking at the touch screen.

If the inputted touch gesture matches a pre-defined touch gesture, thenan action corresponding to the touch gesture is executed while themobile device is locked at step 356. In this way, a user may execute anaction while the mobile device remains locked.

FIG. 4 is diagram 400 illustrating an interface 402 to define a touchgesture to execute an action from a lock screen view to execute anaction, according to an embodiment. Interface 402 includes a number ofdots, such as dot 404. In an example, interface 402 may include ninedots. By moving her finger between dots, a user can more precisely enterthe touch gesture. A user may input a touch gesture by moving her fingerbetween the dots in interface 402. The gesture may be defined by thedots that the user touches and the order in which the user touches them.In examples, interface 402 may be used by gesture definition module 204to define a touch gesture and gesture interpretation module 208 toreceive a touch gesture.

The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not allexemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by theinventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present inventionand the appended claims in any way.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functionalbuilding blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenienceof the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt forvarious applications such specific embodiments, without undueexperimentation, without departing from the general concept of thepresent invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications areintended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of thedisclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presentedherein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, suchthat the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is tobe interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings andguidance.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be definedonly in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A computer-implemented method for executing an action on a mobiledevice, comprising: displaying a lock screen view on the mobile deviceto prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device'sdata; while the mobile device is locked: detecting a touch gesturehaving a pre-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobile device,wherein a user is able to input the touch gesture at any position on thetouch screen; and in response to detection of the touch gesture,executing a particular action on the mobile device, the particularaction determined according to the pre-defined shape, whereby detectionof the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute whilekeeping the mobile device locked.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving an input to authenticate the user; in response tothe received input, unlocking the mobile device; and when the mobiledevice is unlocked, enabling a user to define the shape of the touchgesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute theparticular action, whereby detection the user-defined shape securelyauthorizes execution of the particular action while the mobile device islocked.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the executing the particularaction (c) comprises: accessing personal data stored on the mobiledevice; and outputting the personal data.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the accessing the personal data (i) comprises retrievingcalendar appointment data scheduled for the present date stored on themobile device, and wherein the outputting the personal data (ii)comprises displaying at least a portion of the calendar appointment dataon the touch screen of the mobile device.
 5. The method of claim 3,wherein the accessing personal data (i) comprises retrieving a mediafile stored on the mobile device, and wherein the outputting thepersonal data (ii) comprises playing the media file on the mobiledevice.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an inputto authenticate the user; in response to the received input, unlockingthe mobile device; and when the mobile device is unlocked, displaying toa user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected,causes the mobile device to execute the particular action.
 7. The methodof claim 6, further comprising: when the mobile device is locked and inresponse to a user query, displaying to a user the pre-defined shape ofthe touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device toexecute the particular action.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein theexecuting the particular action comprises changing an unsecure settingof the mobile device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the changing theunsecure setting comprises silencing the mobile device.
 10. The methodof claim 8, wherein the executing the particular action compriseschanging a volume of the mobile device.
 11. A system for executing anaction on a mobile device, comprising: a lock screen module thatdisplays a lock screen view on the mobile device to prevent unauthorizedor inadvertent access to the mobile device's data; a gestureinterpretation module that, while the mobile device is locked, detects atouch gesture having a pre-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobiledevice, wherein a user is able to input the touch gesture at anyposition on the touch screen; and a lock action module that, in responseto detection of the touch gesture and while the mobile device remainslocked, executes a particular action on the mobile device determinedaccording to the pre-defined shape, wherein the mobile device comprisesat least one processor and memory, whereby detection of the touchgesture initiates the particular action while keeping the mobile devicelocked.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lock screen modulereceives an input to authenticate the user and, in response to theauthenticated input, unlocks the mobile device, and further comprising:a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is unlocked,enables a user to define the shape of the touch gesture that, whendetected by the gesture interpretation, causes the lock action module toexecute the particular action, whereby detection the user-defined shapesecurely authorizes execution of the particular action while the mobiledevice is locked.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the lock actionmodule accesses personal data stored on the mobile device and outputsthe personal data to execute the particular action.
 14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the lock action module retrieves calendar appointmentdata scheduled for the present date stored on the mobile device anddisplays at least a portion of the calendar appointment data on thetouch screen of the mobile device to execute the particular action. 15.The system of claim 13, wherein the lock action module retrieves a mediafile and plays the media file to execute the particular action.
 16. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the lock screen module receives an input toauthenticate the user and, in response to the authenticated input,unlocks the mobile device, and further comprising: a gesture definitionmodule that, when the mobile device is unlocked, displays to a user thepre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by thegesture interpretation, causes the lock action module to execute theparticular action.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising agesture definition module that, when the mobile device is locked,displays to a user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, whendetected by the gesture interpretation, causes the lock action module toexecute the particular action.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein thelock action module changes an unsecure setting of the mobile device toexecute the particular action.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein thechanging the unsecure setting comprises silencing the mobile device. 20.The system of claim 18, wherein the lock action module changes a volumeof the mobile device to execute the particular action.
 21. Acomputer-implemented method for executing an action on a mobile device,comprising: when the mobile device is unlocked, enabling a user todefine a shape of a touch gesture to cause the mobile device to executea particular action on the mobile device, displaying a lock screen viewon the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access tothe mobile device's data; while the mobile device is locked: detecting atouch gesture having the user-defined shape on a touch screen of themobile device; and in response to detection of the touch gesture,executing the particular action on the mobile device, whereby detectionthe user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particularaction while the mobile device is locked.